FlinterFile: Rocky Sharpe & The Replays- Imagination

Rocky Sharpe and his band The Replays released their second hit in 1979.

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FlinterFile: Peter Brown- Love In Our Hearts

Peter Brown released his second album, Stargazer, in 1979.

FlinterFile: Bette Midler- The Rose

The best songs are often written in a few minutes. Just like this song, which only needed 10 minutes to be written.

FlinterFile: McGuinn, Clark & Hillman- Surrender To Me

The three founding members of the Byrds formed another group to record an album in 1979.

FlinterFile: America- California Dreamin’

The movie California Dreaming was released in 1979.

FlinterFile: The Clash- London Calling

The Clash came in 1979 with a song about the many ways the world could come to an end.

FlinterFile: The Undertones- Here Comes The Summer

The Undertones, a punk rock band, made their debut in 1979.

FlinterFile: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers- Here Comes My Girl

This song is a little less famous than Refugee.

FlinterFile: Ellen Foley- We Belong To The Night

Ellen Foley had become famous as the female singer in the song Paradise By The Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf.

FlinterFile: Nick Straker Band- A Walk In The Park

In 1979, the Nick Straker Band had their first hit.

FlinterFile: McFadden & Whitehead- Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now

In 1979, two of the writers from the Philadelphia International Records label thought they could record a song together. They had written several hits for the label, including Back Stabbers for the O’Jays. They convinced Gamble & Huff, the owners of the label, to give them a chance.

FlinterFile: Earth, Wind & Fire- Boogie Wonderland

In 1979, Earth Wind & Fire had a hit with a song they nearly passed on to another group. The song, written by Jon Lind and Allee Willis, was the counterpart of all the boogie-disco songs that were produced.

FlinterFile: The Bellamy Brothers- If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)

In 1979, the Bellamy Brothers released one of their big hits. The (extremely) long title was taken from Groucho Marx, who had a television show in their youth. He sometimes used this line, but their family took this line and said it quite often, causing it to be a perfect title. Britney Spears took quite some text from the song for her own song, but the Bellamy Brothers were not amused: they asked themselves where the originality was… In the US it was a number 39 hit, in the UK number 3. Enjoy

The Bellamy Brothers- If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)

FlinterFile: Dan Hartman- Relight My Fire

In 1979, Dan Hartman released the floorfiller Relight My Fire. The song, released as the follow-up of the hit Instant Replay, became a favourite among DJ’s in discotheques. With the 12 inch (which has a four minute intro called Vertigo), it was one of the records that always did a good job at party’s and discos. The music of the song was played by MFSB, the refrain (strong enough to walk on through the night) was sung by Loleatta Holloway, and Dan Hartman singing the rest made it a number 1 hit in the US dance chart. In the UK, it did not chart, until Take That recorded their version, which became number 1… Enjoy the original

Dan Hartman- Vertigo/Relight My Fire

Song of the day: Sheila & the B. Devotion- Spacer

In 1979, Sheila & the Black Devotion made the song they would be remembered for. Produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, who both were in Chic, it would be one of their bigger hits. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were successful with the sound they made with Chic, and were asked to use their knowledge in the production of other artists, such as Sister Sledge and Diana Ross. Sheila & the Black Devotion were, till their co-operation, a group which did not have a lot of success. This changed with the single Spacer, which managed to get top 10 positions over the world, and a number 18 position in the UK. Later, the song would be sampled for Crying In The Discotheque by Alcazar. Enjoy

Sheila & the Black Devotion- Spacer

Song of the day: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Refugee

In 1979, Tom Petty was quite angry with a record label. What was the problem? ABC records, where he was signed up, tried selling their contract to MCA Records, without informing Petty. He wrote a song, Mike Campbell wrote the music, and then the song had to be recorded, which took a very long time. A girl from the reception in the studio where they mixed the song, told them they would have a hit with it. They were not sure, but now we know they hit number 15 in the US. Enjoy

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- Refugee

Song of the day: The Knack- My Sharona

In 1979, the singer of the Knack, Doug Fieger, was madly in love with a girl called Sharona. There was an age difference, he had a relationship, she had a boyfriend, but Doug did not think about giving up: he broke with his girlfriend, and started dating Sharona. She did not break up, which gave a strange situation. Doug even started to write songs about her. The biggest hit of those songs, My Sharona, charted at number 1 in the US and number 6 in the UK. Enjoy

The Knack- My Sharona

Song of the day: Gary Brooker- No More Fear Of Flying

In 1979, the founder of Procol Harum released his third solo single. It was a single from the album of the same name. It was not a big hit, only in the Netherlands it was number 21. Enjoy the beautiful

Gary Brooker- No More Fear Of Flying

Song of the day: Fischer-Z- The Worker

In 1979, Fischer-Z released its debut album Word Salad. The first hit of the band was a clear demonstration that John Watts, one of the persons that formed the band, knew how to address political issues in pop songs. Watts himself stated that the focus on the keyboard rather than the guitar did the work. Anyway, the song became a hit, with number 53 in the UK and even number 20 in the Netherlands. Enjoy

Fischer-Z- The Worker

Song of the day: The Real Thing- Can You Feel The Force

In 1979, the Real Thing released one of their disco hits. They started as a band playing soul covers of American hits, but this did not bring them success. After that, they toured with David Essex, playing before his show started. When Eddie Amoo joined them as a guitarist, their success started. Influenced by Star Wars, they made this song, which became a number 5 hit in the UK. Enjoy

The Real Thing- Can You Feel The Force?

Song of the day: The Pretenders- Brass In Pocket

In 1979, the first hit for the Pretenders was released. The title was derived from a member of Strangeways, who was looking for his money. Brass, logically, means money. Actually, Chrissie Hynde was not happy at all with the song, and did not want to release it. Luckily she was convinced in the end, making the first number 1 hit in the UK in the 1980s a fact. In the US it was a number 14 hit. Enjoy

The Pretenders- Brass In Pocket

Song of the day: Supertramp- Breakfast In America

In 1979, Supertramp released the album Breakfast in America, with the title song as a single. Roger Hodgson wrote it already before he joined Supertramp, but never recorded it. When it was about a decade old, Rick Davies told him to take the song and change it. Hodgson refused to do that, which meant the text was ready. The song was not a big hit in America, charting at 62, but in the UK it reached number 9. Enjoy

Supertramp- Breakfast In America

Song of the day: Godley & Creme- An Englishman In New York

In 1979, Godley & Creme released An Englishman In New York. It was a single from their album Freeze Frame, and was mostly a hit in the Netherlands and Belgium, where it peaked at number 4. Godley & Creme originally were members of 10CC, but decided to quit the band and move on together. The song was famous for its music video, and both have been directing music videos more than scoring hits. They directed videos for Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Duran Duran and many others. Enjoy

Godley & Creme- An Englishman In New York

Song of the day: Electric Light Orchestra- Don’t Bring Me Down

In 1979, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) released their album Discovery. On this album, the last track was Don’t Bring Me Down. The song was written in a short time, since Jeff Lynne (the singer) thought there were not enough loud songs on the album. It made it to number 3 in the UK and number 4 in the US, what meant it was the greatest hit they had so far in the US. The song includes a slamming door at the end and an often misheard word: Grüß, which is often mistakenly heard as Bruce. Enjoy

ELO- Don’t Bring Me Down

Song of the day: Kiss- Sure Know Something

Though their other song was a big hit in the disco scene, this one might have been a bit more hard rock. The song reached number 47 in the US, but other countries, like Australia, obviously liked it more: the song was number 5 in Australia! The song came off the album Dynasty, which was released in 1979. The unplugged version from the nineties did good too, but this is the original:

Kiss- Sure Know Something

Song of the day: Ottawan- D.I.S.C.O.

You can guess it already: it’s Saturday, so we’re going to dance with a nice disco hit! This song was made by a French group named Ottawan, and it was recorded and released in 1979. The song would make it to number 2 in the UK in the following year. The original song, first recorded, was made in French! So why name your song D.I.S.C.O.? Since the woman in the song is Delerious.Irresistable.Superficial.Complicated.Oh-oh-oh. Enjoy

Ottawan- D.I.S.C.O.

Song of the day: Meat Loaf- Bat Out Of Hell

Looks pretty frightening, doesn’t it? Well, this song has quite a history. It was released for the first time in 1979, as a single for the album Bat Out Of Hell, which was released in 1977. In 1993, the song was re-released. In the UK it would be number 15, in the US number 45. It was inspired on the dramatic songs Jim Steinman used to listen to, such as Leader Of The Pack by the Shangri-Las and Tell Laura I Love Her. Steinman then wanted to create a car-crash song which was worse than everything that has been written till then. At the end of the recording session, Steinman kept complaining that he wanted a motorcycle, so the guitarist finally gave him one. Enjoy

Meat Loaf- Bat Out Of Hell

Song of the day: Madness- One Step Beyond

In 1964, Prince Buster (a Jamaican ska singer) recorded One Step Beyond as a B-side to a single. This B-side was totally forgotten, until 1979. That was the year Madness released their debut album One Step Beyond, with as single One Step Beyond. The intro of the song was stolen from another Prince Buster song, and Chas Smash (one of the Madness members) recorded the rest. This single was a number 7 hit in the UK and number 76 in the US club chart, and now it’s song of the day! Enjoy

Madness- One Step Beyond

Song of the day: The Police- Walking On The Moon

A hit from the seventies! It was a single from the second album by the Police. A nice detail is that the song was written by Sting, when he was drunk… he just had a certain riff in his head, and went walking around his hotel room, singing “Walking round the room ya ya walking round the room”. At least it was good for number 1 in the UK! Enjoy

The Police- Walking On The Moon

Song of the day: McGuinn, Clark & Hillman- Don’t You Write Her Off

McGuinn, Clark & Hillmann got together in 1979 to record several songs, of which this was the biggest hit. The three are former members of the Byrds, and they modelled themselves after the group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, who also were some good musicians combined. It managed to make it to number 33 in the US. Enjoy

McGuinn, Clark & Hillmann- Don’t You Write Her Off

Song of the day: Frantique- Strut Your Funky Stuff

A completely forgotten disco group, I guess. I would have forgotten about them, too, if I didn’t just hear them on the radio. They released this song on their album Strut Your Funky Stuff in 1979. The song made it to number 10 in the UK, which would be the only hit Frantique ever had. Though they disappeared, this song still stands! Enjoy

Frantique- Strut Your Funky Stuff

Song of the day: UK- Rendezvous 6:02

A superband from the seventies today! Not because they had lots of members, but because they all were famous from other bands. The band was formed by John Wetton and Bill Bruford (both from King Crimson). Bruford has also played a short time in Yes and as extra drummer by Genesis. Eddie Jobson was another member, he was known from Roxy Music. After the first album, Bruford quit the band. He was replaced by Terry Bozzio, who was a friend of Jobson when he played by Frank Zappa. Those three made the album Danger Money, of which the song of the day probably is the best known, though it never was a hit. Enjoy

U.K.- Rendezvous 6:02

Song of the day: Amii Stewart- Knock On Wood

A disco song which wasn’t a disco song when it was written. Not that it is strange, because quite some disco songs were no disco songs in their origin. Knock on Wood was written by Eddie Floyd in 1966, and recorded by its writer. It peaked at number 28 in the US. David Bowie then recorded the song, on a live album, in 1974, and made a single out of it. This would do number 10 in the UK. The biggest hit, however, would come in 1979, when Amii Stewart changed the music into disco, making it a number one hit in the US. Her version would be succeeded by several other covers, none of which were successful. Enjoy

Amii Stewart- Knock On Wood

Song of the day: Charlie Daniels Band- The Devil Went Down To Georgia

This song was first included on an album in 1979, though the melody was stolen from an older song. The only thing the Charlie Daniels Band did, was take the tune, make it a little higher and write a text to it. The song is quite genius, since the story is very good: first, the devil wants the soul of someone called Johnny, and so they end up in a contest of fiddle playing. The devil does some rock songs, backed up by demons, but Johnny takes the best of country history, including the well known song The House Of The Rising Sun, and knows to keep his soul from the devil. It would make it to number 14 in the UK and even to number 3 in the US! Enjoy

The Charlie Daniels Band- The Devil Went Down To Georgia

Song of the day: Janis Ian- Fly Too High

A multitalent singer today! Not only does Janis Ian sing, entering the folk scene in the sixties while she still was a teenager, she also is a columnist, a science fiction writer, songwriter and musician! She had lots of success with the song At Seventeen, but I go for a song from 1979. It was produced by Giorgio Moroder (the famous disco producer!) and was added to the soundtrack of the movie Foxes. She got a grammy nomination for it and it would be a hit in a lot of countries, like the Netherlands and Australia. Enjoy

Janis Ian- Fly Too High

Song of the day: Ironhorse- Sweet Louise

The band Ironhorse only had one hit, and it was not even a big one. The band was formed by Randy Bachman, who was a member of Bachman Turner Overdrive, and he was the band together with Tom Sparks, Chris Leighton and Ron Foos. They made the song Sweet Louise, which was a minor hit in the US, peaking at number 36. In the UK the song made it to 60, in Canada to 26. They released two albums before they turned into another group, with a new member (for the ones who want to know: Fred Turner, who was in Bachman Turner Overdrive), namely Union. A nice detail is that Randy Bachman wants to get Ironhorse together again and touring, since he wants to release the two albums on CD! Enjoy

Ironhorse- Sweet Louise

Song of the day: Azoto- San Salvador

There is a connection between the summer and disco music. It is called italo disco, which is disco music, but then a bit more sunny. That seems difficult, but it is not. The song of today could be an example, though some doubt it and say it’s in the stage going towards italo disco. I would say: decide for yourself about that. What I do know for sure is that the song became a hit in 1980 and features a house style piano (which is a great instrument). And I know that it’s a great song to dance on. Enjoy

Azoto- San Salvador

Song of the day: M- Pop Muzik

Saturday night: disco night. And therefore we have our disco records from the eighties, the eurodance from the nineties and everything which is danceable. Today, we can enjoy and dance to a record from the late seventies.  The song was recorded by M, which was a sort of band, lead by Robin Scott. He wanted to have a record which made 25 years of pop music come together. Using disco music, he did it. As he himself said: rock ‘n roll created a generation gap, disco made people come together. It had to be a simple statement: everyone is talking about pop music. Well, he certainly made his statement in several clubs, because the single went up in the charts, almost everywhere peaking in the top 5, and in a lot of countries even making it to number one! Enjoy dancing to

M- Pop Muzik

Song of the day: The Crusaders- Street Life

Yeah, this song was the most popular song of The Crusaders. The Crusaders were already around some time as a jazz/pop group, and to record this song, they invited another singer: Randy Crawford. She was at the start of her career, and I think she could never have dreamed that she would have a number one hit with One Day I’ll Fly Away. This song did quite a good job, because it entered the soul charts and the disco charts (although they were higher in the soul chart than in the disco chart). However, who cares? They have got the Song of the day, so enjoy

The Crusaders feat. Randy Crawford- Street Life

Song of the day: Viola Wills- Gonna Get Along Without You Now

Some disco classics are just awesome. And of some, you can sing along with every word. This record has both of them. I just heard it again on the radio, and since it hasn’t been featured yet, I thought: let’s do so now. Actually, there’s not a lot to tell about this record. It’s a big classic, you can dance perfectly on it (I just did, why not?) and the text is not too difficult. Enjoy and dance to

Viola Wills- Gonna Get Along Without You Now

Song of the day: Cheap Trick- I Want You To Want Me

So we have the last song of the seventies: 1979! What was a big hit in this year? Yes, a nice live song, which was absolutely clear. The album version was already released in 1977, but I like the live version better! Enjoy

Cheap Trick- I Want You To Want Me